Taman Rimba Kiara is a little green gem located in a corner of the TTDI residential area. The above flowering tree, the firmiana malayana or mata lembu, flashes in testimony to man's care-less-ness - it's one of only two trees in the park that had flowered, since then the tree had been chopped down.

Saturday, 18 November 2023

When a raptor comes avisiting

The lure of food is indeed irresistible to both man and beast.  And on this occasion it compelled these two big ones to risk unusually close proximity to human beings and settlements for such.  

The Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus orientalis)(Helang-Lebah Asia) does transit at the taman each year, but to see a couple together at my front yard suggests that perhaps food of its kind was rathe scarce in this part that both would venture here.

 
What's in a name?
'lebah' is bee whilst 'madu' is honey.  Honey-buzzards feed mainly on the larvae of bees and wasps, and also parts of comb and honey.  However its diet could also include insect prey, small birds and even reptiles and frogs.





When its calls went unheeded it decided to fly down to join the other which unfortunately was hidden from view.


But this more matured-looking one was more alert as it immediately flew away when I tried to approach for closer images whilst the other was still 'rummaging'.

And finally it also took off as it looked like the tiny hive was an under-estimation.





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